Safety device foe elevators



(No Model.) Y 3 Sheets-'Shet-l.

R. 'DORN. I SAFETY DEVICE FOR ELEVATORS. No. 595,943. Patented Den -21.1897.

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(No Model.)

R. DORN.

3 Sheets-Sheet 2v SAFETY DEVICE FOR ELEVATORS.

Patented Dec. 2-1, 1897.

(No Model.)

3 She'ets-Sheet 3.

R. BORN. SAFETY DEVICE FOR-ELEVATORS.

Patented Dec. 21 1897.

UNITED STATES A PATENT rrrcn.

ROBERT DORN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

SAFETY DEVICE FOR ELEVATORS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 595,943, dated December 21, 1897.

Application filed June 18,1897. Serial No- 641380. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT DORN, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city, county,and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Safety Devices for Elevators, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in elevators, and pertains particularly to improvements in safety devices designed to automatically engage a fixed part of an elevator-shaft upon the breakage of the supporting-cable, so as to prevent the elevator from dropping.

The invention consists of details of construction hereinafter described, and defined in the claims.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective of an elevator equipped with my invention; Fig. 2, a transverse section thereof on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1, looking from above. Fig. 3 is a detail of the clamping-dogs. Fig. 4 is an elevation of the operating-lever, parts being in section. Fig. 5isasect-ion onthe line 5 5 of Fig. 2, showing in elevation the mechanism for actuating the clamping-dogs.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

As shown in the drawings, A represents an elevator-car, which may be of any usual or desired construction and is mounted to slide upon suitable ways B B, secured vertically upon the framework of the elevator-shaft B, as usual. The ways B B, which serve to guide the elevator-car within the shaft, are arranged in the corners thereof and are preferably constructed of 'wood of suitable strength to afford a certain and reliable hold for the gripping devices.

The elevator-car A is actuated within the shaft by means of a hoisting-cable 0, connected with the car and trained over a suitable sheave (not shown) at the top of the shaft and thence to any suitable motor.

The controlling devices for regulating the ascent and descent of the car in its ordinary movements may be of any desired or usual construction; but as the said devices have no particular connection with the present inven tion they are for the sake of clearness and brevity omitted from the description and drawings herein.

To the underside of the bottom of the elevator-car are pivoted two gripping-frames D D of substantially square shape, each corner of which is somewhat extended beyond the plane of the sides and carries a gripping-dog d pivoted in a slotted extension 01 d, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The gripping-frames D D are pivotally supported upon a shaft E and are arranged one directly above the other and are held a suitable distance apart by annular flanges e e, carried by the shaft E. Upon the under side of frame D are secured toothed segments S S, which are engaged by a pinion F. This pinion F is located between the frames D D, and the shaft f thereof extends up through the frame D and through the floor of the elevator-car, preferably near one corner. A gear-wheel F is fixed to the shaft f at a suitable distance above the floor of the car and engages a gear F fixed upon a shaft G adjacent to the shaft f. A power ful spring H is coiled upon the shaft G above the gear F and is connected therewith so as to cause the rotation of said gear F when the spring is released. The upper end of shaft G is squared to receive a wrench, by which the spring may be wound up, and the upper 'end of the shaft f is provided with a suitable hand-wheel, whereby the gripping-frames D D may be opened after having been looked upon the ways BB. A removable cover or box J may be provided for protecting the mechanism above described.

Upon the roof of the elevator-carA is pivoted a lever L, from one end of which a rod L is adjustably pivoted. This rod L passes down through the roof of the car, preferably near the corner thereof, and carries at its lower end a toothed locking-dog F which in its normal position engages with and locks the gear F on the shaft G. To the other end of the lever L is secured a short rod L ,which moves vertically in a box K on the roof of the car. The outer extremity of the rod L is connected with the hoisting-cable C, and a strong spiral spring L is sleeved upon the said rod L and bears against the upper end of the box K, so as to depress the end of the lever L when released by the accidental parting of the cable 0. A stop T may be provided, against which the end of the rod L abuts, thus insuring the proper engaging of the locking-dog F with the gear F Suitable indicator-marks o 0 may be applied to the rod L and some fixed portion of the car to show when the operating mechanisms are in proper position. Vhen the parts are in their normal position, the weight of the elevatorcar upon the hoisting-cable Odraws the end of the lever L up to the limit of its movement against the resistance of the spring L In this position of the lever the rod L is in its lowest position and the locking-dog F is in engagement with and locks the gear F thereby also looking the gear-Wheel F and the pinion F against rotation. Under these conditions the gripping-framesl) D are separated and the clamping-dogs (Z are out of engagement with the ways l3 B. The elevatorcar is then free to travel in the usual manner. Upon the breaking of the hoisting-cable C the releasing of the spring L forces the lever L down to its lowest position and the rod L is raised, carrying the locking-dog F up out of engagement with the gear F The spring 11 being released rotates the gear F which in turn actuates the gear-wheel F and the pinion F. The pinion F acts upon the toothed racks or segments S S, forcing them in op posite directions, thus closing the clampingframes D D and enablingthe elamping-dogs d to engage with the ways B B. The result of this operation is to instantly stop the descent of the car.

Of course the minor details of the apparatus may be considerably varied without exceeding the scope of the invention. For example, insteadof the clamping-dogs engaging with the ways B B one or more Verticallyarranged serrated or toothed bars may be provided, with which the clamping-frames may engage directly without the necessity of the clamping-dogs Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. The combination with an elevator-shaft and an elevator-car guided therein, of upright ways in said shaft, a gripping device pivoted to the frame of the car and adapted to engage said ways, said gripping device being composed of two superimposed grippingframes each of which is provided with a toothed segment, a'pinion engaging said segments and fixed on a rotatable shaft, a gear-wheel fixed to said shaft above said pinion, a spring-actuated gear meshing with said gear-wheel, and a locking device adapted to be thrown into and out of engagement with said spring-actuated gear, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination with an elevator-shaft and an elevator-ear guided therein, of upright ways in said shaft, a gripping device pivoted to the bottom of the car and adapted to engage said ways, said gripping device being composed of two superimposed gripping-frames each of which is provided with a toothed segment, a pinion engaging said segments, a rotatable shaft carrying said pinion and extending up through the floor of the car, a gearwheel fixed to said shaft above said pinion, a fixed shaft carrying a spring'actuated gear meshing with said gear-wheel, a locking-dog fixed to a vertical rod, a lever pivoted to the top of the car and connected with said rod, and a spring-pressed rod attached to the end of said lever and a hoisting-cable attached to said rod, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination with an elevator-shaft and an elevator-car guided therein, of upright ways in said shaft, two superimposed, oppositely-moving gripping-frames pivoted to the bottom of the car and provided with slotted extensions, gripping-dogs pivoted in said slots, toothed segments carried by said gripping-frames, a pinion located between said gripping-frames and engaging the toothed segments, a rotatable shaft extending through the floor of the car and carrying said pinion, a gear-wheel fixed to said shaft above said pinion, a fixed shaft adjacent to said rotatable shaft, a spring-actuated gear fixed to the fixed shaft and meshing with said gear-wheel, a locking-dog engaging said gear, a vertical rod carrying said locking-dog, a lever connected to said rod, a spring-pressed rod attached to said lever, and a hoisting-cable connected to said rod, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed my name in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ROBERT DORN.

W'itnesses:

GEO. XV. JAEKEL, CARL KABLE. 

